This species occurs in four well separated locations (metapopulations) each with one to several populations. It has a maximum extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) of 100 km2 and 10 km2, respectively. Most populations at all locations are threatened by one or more factors including water level changes, encroachment by invasive or other vegetation, and development and human activities, in addition to population stochasticity. Population size has fluctuated dramatically over the years at all sites and declined significantly at some of these in the past 15 years.

This species is found in the USA. It occurs in four disjunct locations in the United States: along the Chesapeake Bay in Calvert and Cecil-Kent Counties in Maryland and along the Connecticut River in Middlesex County, Connecticut and Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It has long been extinct from other Connecticut and Massachusetts sites.

The size of all populations based on visual index counts has fluctuated dramatically over the years. The metapopulation in Calvert County includes six populations with total adult numbers ranging from estimates of 1101 to 9185 individuals from 1989 to 2013. The count in 2013 was 3663. The Kent-Cecil metapopulation includes seven populations with adult numbers ranging from 400 to 2755 from 1989 to 2013. The 2013 count was 1864. The Connecticut metapopulations includes three populations with total adult numbers ranging from 350 to 1015 between 1991 and 2003. The 2003 count was 970. The single small population in Massachusetts has ranged from 25 to 198 from 1997 to 2006. The 2006 count was 87. The Maryland populations experience mortality, possibly significant, from Methocha a wingless parasitic wasp which attacks second and third instar larvae. Competition with Cicindela repanda, a co-occurring tiger beetle at all sites may be impacting populations but has not been studied.

The habitat in Maryland is different from that in New England. In Maryland the species occurs along narrow sandy beaches of the Chesapeake Bay backed by tall cliffs. Adults forage along the narrow beaches and cliff bases for water edge arthropods and will scavenge dead organisms. They move to the cliffs usually to the upper strata where the preferred sandy oviposition substrate occurs. Larvae are site-and-wait burrow dwelling predators that feed on small arthropods which move near the burrow mouth. The larvae develop on the vertical cliff faces over a two year period. In Connecticut and Massachusetts the species occurs along sandy beaches or point bars of the Connecticut River. Adults forage along the water edge and oviposit in sandy soils on the back beaches above the high water level. Larvae develop in the upper beaches over a two year period.

All populations experience dramatic fluctuations in abundance resulting from natural and human related disturbances. In Maryland, a major threat is increased vegetation growth on the cliffs which results in reduction of the bare areas needed for adult ovipositon and larval development. A related threat at privately owned sites is construction of shoreline erosion control structures that results in cliff stabilization and vegetation growth. Rising water levels in the Chesapeake and apparent increasing impacts from storms result in cliff erosion and breakdown. This benefits the species by reducing cliff vegetation and increasing recruitment and larval development habitat. In New England, water level fluctuations and invasive vegetation have significant impacts on some populations.

Extensive surveys initiated in the early 1990s have surveyed areas of potential habitat throughout the geographic range of the species and apparently identified all extant populations. Annual monitoring of adult population size has been conducted at all sties since the early 1990s. Additional research, including studies of habitat characteristics, impact of vegetation on larval habitat and development of population viability analysis have been conducted. It is listed as a Threatened species by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.